Apparatus for holding a door open

Abstract

A door hold-open device including a track, a first catch slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track, a stop assembly including a second catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the first catch wherein the second catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction, a resilient member that applies a force to the second catch to urge the second catch into a position where the second catch engages the first catch when the first catch is adjacent to the second catch, and a linear actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the linear actuator applies a first force to the resilient member in the first position and a second different force to the resilient member in the second position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A door hold-open device comprising: 
       a. a track;  
       b. a slide block catch feature slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track;  
       c. a stop assembly comprising:  
       i. a stop assembly catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the slide block catch feature wherein the stop assembly catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction,  
       ii. a resilient member that applies a force to the stop assembly catch to urge the stop assembly catch into a position where the stop assembly catch engages the slide block catch feature when the slide block catch feature is adjacent to the stop assembly catch;  
       d. a linear actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the linear actuator applies a first force to the resilient member in the first position and a second different force to the resilient member in the second position;  
       wherein said slide block catch feature is free to travel beyond said stop assembly catch along at least a substantial portion of any remaining length of said track, thus allowing a door to open beyond said stop assembly. 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is a solenoid. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  further comprising a reset assembly coupled to the track and comprising a reset assembly catch adapted to engage the slide block catch feature wherein the reset assembly is moveable in the longitudinal direction and wherein the reset assembly contacts the linear actuator when the door is opened and thereby resets the linear actuator. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the linear actuator is a solenoid and the stop assembly further comprises a ball and stop assembly catch has a concave shaped feature adapted to engage the ball and the ball is positioned between the concave shape feature and the resilient member. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the stop assembly further comprises a ball and the stop assembly catch has a concave shaped feature adapted to engage the ball and the ball is positioned between the concave shared feature and the resilient member. 
     
     
       6. A door hold-open device comprising: 
       a. a track;  
       b. a slide block catch feature slidably mounted in the track;  
       c. means for overcomably impeding the movement of the slide block catch feature along the track such that the slide block catch feature can be moved past the impeding means;  
       d. means for varying the force required for the slide block catch feature to overcome the impeding means.  
     
     
       7. A door hold-open device for holding a door open comprising: 
       a. a track;  
       b. a slide block catch feature slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track;  
       c. a stop assembly comprising:  
       i. a stop assembly catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the slide block catch feature wherein the stop assembly catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction;  
       ii. a resilient member that applies a force to the stop assembly catch to urge the stop assembly catch into a position where the stop assembly catch engages the slide block catch feature when the slide block catch feature is adjacent to the stop assembly catch;  
       iii. means for applying a variable force to the resilient member and thereby varying the force applied to the stop assembly catch;  
       wherein said slide block catch feature is free to travel beyond said stop assembly catch along at least a substantial portion of any remaining length of said track, thus allowing a door to open beyond said stop assembly. 
     
     
       8. A method for holding a door open comprising the step of providing a track, a slide block catch feature slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track, a stop assembly comprising: a stop assembly catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the slide block catch feature wherein the stop assembly catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction and further wherein said slide block catch feature is free to travel beyond said stop assembly catch along at least a substantial portion of any remaining length of said track, thus allowing a door to open beyond said stop assembly; a resilient member that applies a force to the stop assembly catch to urge the stop assembly catch into a position where the stop assembly catch engages the slide block catch feature when the slide block catch feature is adjacent to the stop assembly catch, and a solenoid having an energized position and a de-energized position, wherein the solenoid applies a first force to the resilient member in the energized position and a second force to the resilient member in the de-energized position. 
     
     
       9. A door hold-open device comprising: 
       a. a track;  
       b. a first catch slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track;  
       c. a stop assembly comprising:  
       i. a second catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the first catch wherein the second catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction;  
       ii. a resilient member that applies a force to the second catch to urge the second catch into a position where the second catch engages the first catch when the first catch is adjacent to the second catch;  
       e. a linear actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the linear actuator applies a first force to the resilient member in the first position and a second different force to the resilient member in the second position; and  
       f. a reset assembly coupled to the track, said reset assembly comprising a third catch adapted to engage the first catch wherein the reset assembly is moveable in the longitudinal direction and wherein the reset assembly contacts the linear actuator when the door is opened and thereby resets the linear actuator.  
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the linear actuator is a solenoid and the stop assembly further comprises a ball and the second catch has a concave shaped feature adapted to engage the ball and the ball is positioned between the feature and the resilient member. 
     
     
       11. A door hold-open device comprising: 
       a track;  
       a first catch slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the track;  
       a stop assembly comprising a second catch coupled to the track and adapted to engage the first catch wherein the second catch is moveable in a direction different than the longitudinal direction, and a resilient member that applies a force to the second catch to urge the second catch into a position where the second catch engages the first catch when the first catch is adjacent to the second catch; and  
       a linear actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the linear actuator applies a first force to the resilient member in the first position and a second different force to the resilient member in the second position;  
       wherein the stop assembly further comprises a ball and the second catch has a concave shaped feature adapted to engage the ball and the ball is positioned between the feature and the resilient member.